There's a reason it's called the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication over at WSU. All Murrow did during his broadcasting career at CBS was help convince the United States it was smart to enter World War II and end McCarthyism while becoming a pioneer of television journalism.

Lundgren is best known for his portrayal of Ivan Drago, a fictional Russian boxer whom Rocky Balboa takes down in "Rocky IV." But some Coug fans still haven't forgiven Lundgren for what he did to Apollo Creed.

Allen, worth an estimated $18.1 billion, is easily the richest WSU alumnus. And he's seen great success as owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers. Not bad for a guy who dropped out of WSU after two years.

Timothy Leary, the controversial psychologist who coined the term "Turn on, tune in, drop out," got his graduate degree from WSU in the 1940s. Then he became an advocate for LSD, among other psychedelic drugs, as a professor and traveling lecturer during the acid wave of the 1960s. President Richard Nixon once dubbed him "the most dangerous man in America."

Known for drawing on his experiences as a Native American growing up in the United States, Alexie's most famous work is "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," later adapted into the movie "Smoke Signals." He's also a poet and die-hard NBA fan who is still upset the SuperSonics were stolen.

The former Washington State quarterback had great success with the New England Patriots after they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1993 NFL draft. Bledsoe went on to play nine seasons in New England, three seasons with the Buffalo Bills and two with the Dallas Cowboys. He threw for almost 45,000 yards during that span and in 1997 led the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXI, where they lost to the Green Bay Packers.

Cey, a third baseman, hit .261 with 316 homers over a 17-year career in the big leagues. During a 12-year stint with the Dodgers, he made six consecutive National League All-Star teams from 1974 to 1979.

Known as much for the sweet helmet he had to wear in the field as his smooth stroke, Olerud hit .295 with 500 doubles over his 17-year career. The Seattle native spent five seasons with the Mariners, hitting .301 on the 2001 team that tied a regular-season record with 116 wins. He also won the AL batting title in 1993 and was elected to two All-Star teams.

Trufant, a Tacoma native, spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Seahawks after they drafted him in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft.

Marcus Trufant (former professional football player)

Trufant, a Tacoma native, spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Seahawks after they drafted him in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft.

Photo: Mike Urban, Seattle P-I

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Mark Rypien (former NFL quarterback)

WSU is nicknamed "Quarterback U" for a reason. Rypien won Super Bowl XXVI MVP with the Redskins and lasted 11 seasons in the NFL.

Mark Rypien (former NFL quarterback)

WSU is nicknamed "Quarterback U" for a reason. Rypien won Super Bowl XXVI MVP with the Redskins and lasted 11 seasons in the NFL.

Photo: Greg Gibson, Chronicle Wire Services

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Steve Gleason (former NFL player)

Gleason played for the New Orleans Saints from 2000-06, famously blocking a punt in the Superdome in 2006 in the team's first regular-season home game after Hurricane Katrina. In 2011, Gleason was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, which he's fought over the past six years through "Team Gleason."

The foundation has raised some $20 million for those suffering from the disease. A documentary about his courageous battle with the disease -- appropriately titled "Gleason" -- is garnering Oscar buzz.

Lagat is a decorated distance runner and seemingly ageless. He'll be competing for the United States this month in Rio at the age of 41.

Bernard Lagat (runner)

Lagat is a decorated distance runner and seemingly ageless. He'll be competing for the United States this month in Rio at the age of 41.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez

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Keith Jackson (football broadcaster)

"Whoa Nellie!" Jackson made the call famous during his distinguished career spanning five decades as a broadcaster for ABC.

Keith Jackson (football broadcaster)

"Whoa Nellie!" Jackson made the call famous during his distinguished career spanning five decades as a broadcaster for ABC.

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Patty Murray (United States senator)

Murray, a Democrat, has served four terms as a Senator in Washington. She's up for re-election again in 2016.

Patty Murray (United States senator)

Murray, a Democrat, has served four terms as a Senator in Washington. She's up for re-election again in 2016.

Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.

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Craig Ehlo (professional basketball player)

Ehlo is best known for a certain jumper that Michael Jordan drilled with Ehlo's hand in his face, but the former Coug did have a productive 14-year NBA career.

Craig Ehlo (professional basketball player)

Ehlo is best known for a certain jumper that Michael Jordan drilled with Ehlo's hand in his face, but the former Coug did have a productive 14-year NBA career.

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Deone Bucannon (professional football player)

Bucannon blossomed this past season on an Arizona Cardinals team that made it all the way to the NFC championship game.

Deone Bucannon (professional football player)

Bucannon blossomed this past season on an Arizona Cardinals team that made it all the way to the NFC championship game.

Photo: Michael Chang, Getty Images

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Gary Larson (cartoonist)

“The Far Side” creator ended his cartoon in 1995 after a 15-year run. The cartoonist, known for upright cows and teenage cigarette-smoking dinosaurs, was 44 at the time.

Gary Larson (cartoonist)

“The Far Side” creator ended his cartoon in 1995 after a 15-year run. The cartoonist, known for upright cows and teenage cigarette-smoking dinosaurs, was 44 at the time.

Photo: Glen Martin, Denver Post Via Getty Images

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Ryan Leaf (NFL draft bust)

The WSU quarterback was selected second in the 1998 draft, behind Peyton Manning, and was heralded as one of the best prospects in years. But once he was in San Diego, in the more challenging environment of the NFL, Leaf was a bust. A huge bust. In two years with the Chargers, he started 18 games and completed just 48 percent of his passes, throwing 13 touchdowns to 33 interceptions. After a short stint with Dallas, the Seahawks signed him in 2002 but he didn't make it through training camp. Since his NFL days, Leaf's life has unraveled -- he has been arrested on a slew of drug charges over the past decade, and he finished a prison sentence in December 2014 after violating his parole.

There is a shared, borderline-religious belief among Washington State alumni that there is something special about being a Coug.

Tangentially, it's represented in the crimson Washington State license plates you see around the state. It's represented by Ol' Crimson's record number of consecutive appearances on ESPN's "College GameDay," or by the random "Go Cougs!" you'll unexpectedly get when you're wearing WSU gear in a foreign country.

There is a camaraderie that develops when a college is located in a place as isolated as Pullman, a rural college town surrounded by rolling wheat fields and whose nearest "major city" is Spokane, a two-hour drive away.

For many, the passage of time makes the idea of a college town more romantic, a place to escape from the rigors of real life a few Saturdays every fall.

All these reasons are why, one would argue, Washington State fans take special note of their own, often following an athlete through a professional career long after he or she has graduated from college. With the University of Washington looming like a giant at its Seattle campus, and a huge chunk of the WSU alumni in the Seattle area, Coug fans treat supporting their school as if it's an act of defiance.

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Former WSU football coach Jim Walden summarized it best:

"I can't define it, I can't tell someone who isn't a Cougar what it's like. There's something that happens at Washington State; you quietly and subtly become infected. ...Washington State is a passion. Being a Cougar is a passion."

You can't quit being a Cougar. It's basically a drug. So indulge and check out the gallery to view the 20 most notable WSU alumni in recent memory.